Barrel bending machine



April 5, 1949. H. c. COGAN BARREL BENDING MACHINE 58heets-Shet 1 Filed Feb 14, 1947 INVENTOR HOWARD C. COGAN April 5, 1949.

H. c. COGAN BARREL BENDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2- Filed Feb. 14, 1947 INVENTOR HOWARD C. COGAN 5 ShetsSheet 5 Filed Feb. 14, 1947 IOI INVENTOR. HOWARD C. COGAN April 5, 1949. H. c. COGAN BARREL BENDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 14, 1947 I will INVENTOR HOWARD C. CO GAN a AffoRN EY H. C. COGAN BARREL BENDING MACHINE April 5, 1949.

Filed Feb. 14, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 7

INVENTOR HOWARD C. COGAN TTORNEY Patented Apr. 5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BARREL BENDING MACHINE Application February 14, 1947, Serial No. 728,662

8 Claims.

This invention relates toa power driven bending machine for producing vcylindrically shaped articles from sheet stockyan'dmore specifically to a type thereof which will deliver the articles being rolled to means which'then effect other operations on said articles.

It is the general purpose of the invention to provide improvements in a bending machine which will render such machine adaptable to automatic cooperation with another machine which will receive the article or material formed in such bending machine and then fasten together certain selectedportions thereof. However, inasmuch as the particular bending machine, here utilized to illustrate the invention, has been designed specifically for cooperation with an automatic seam welding machine for cylindrical articles, the hereinafter appearing description of the invention willbe f amachine for rolling sheets of suitable material into cylindrically shaped articles, hereinafter referred to as preforms, which may be welded by such welding machine into the side walls of a container, such as a barrel.

It is recognized that there are" numerous machines and methods in existence for rolling suitable sheet stock into cylindrically shaped preforms which may then be Welded to form containers, such as barrels. However, since the present method of producing sidewalls for such containers, Whose diameter is relatively large in proportion to the thickness of the side walls, in-

volves two separate machines and two separate operations, as the material isfirst rolled into the proper form and then welded, it becomes apparent that a machine which reduces thesetwo operations to a single operation would be highly advantageous. It is further obvious that a machine of the type disclosed eliminates the need for additional floor space in which to store or stack the rolled articles between the rolling and welding operations. It Will also be noted that a bending machine coordinated automatically with a welding machine will operate more efiiciently than could the two machines operating separately by its elimination ofv the manual transfer of the rolled cylindrioally shaped articles from said bending machine to said welding machine.

Accordingly, it becomes apparent that a major object of this invention is to provide a power driven bending machine for automatic cooperation with a welding machine whereby stock shaped on said bending machine will be automatically transferred therefrom to said associated welding machine. I

A further object of this'invention is'to provide a bending machine as aforesaid whichis readily adjustable to the handling of 'a varietyof sizes and gauges-of sheetinaterial.

A further object of this 'inventionis to provide a bending machine 'as aforesaid which will preform the cylindricalside walls for barrels made from sheet material;

A further object of this invention is to'provide a bending machine as aforesaid 'whichmay be quickly and readily adjusted to control the amount of curvature imposed upona piece'of sheet material-being shaped thereby.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bending machine as aforesaid which willafiect a substantial reduction in the overall cost of producing cylindrically shaped articles from sheet stockwhich are to bewelded, after shaping, into solid cylindrical surfaces.

Other objects and purposes 'ofthis invention will be apparent to personsfamiliar with this type of equipment upon referring to the accompanying drawings and upon reading the following specification.

In order to meet the objects and purposes mentioned above, as well as others .incidental thereto and associated therewith, I have conceived the provision of a bending machine having, among other things, three rolls comprising two driving rolls and a bending roll suitably driven and mounted so that the degree of curvature induced by said rolls upon sheet "stock run between them may be altered easily and quickly. The operable length of said rolls will be such that it will meet the maximum requirements in axial length of cylindrically shaped articles to beformed thereby. v

In conjunction with saidrolls and disposed-in a line adjacent to and parallel with .saidrolls is a series of equally spaced, grooved guide rollers for reception of that-edge of the sheet stock which, having entered and passed through-the driving rolls, hasdescribed aisubstantially complete circle above said rolls-and has returned to a position approximately adjacent to and parallel with the point of entry between the said rolls.

A suitable ejection device, including meansimparting appropriate reciprocable motion thereto, is operably timed'with the rolling mechanism-so as to transfer the cylindrically shaped articles from said bending 'machine, for example; to a conveniently locatedwelding machine associated therewith.

It will be understood that the'said ejection de 'vice is not limited to use associated with'a-weld ing machine as just described. The saidcyline ,machine including the prime mover, the ejection.

drically shaped articles may be discharged from the bending machine by said ejection device onto a conveyor or other means properly positioned with respect to the point of ejection. It will be further understood that said ejection device is not limited in principle to cylindrically shaped articles. Either in its present form or by means of simple modification, said device may be adapted to eject other articles shaped by this or similar machines.

The bending machine, its prime mover and the ejecting device may be mounted on any suitable platform, but will be positioned preferably so that sheet stock may be readily and easily fed into the machine by a workman occupying a normal position of posture. It must also be kept in mind that said machine, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, has been adapted for cooperation with a welding machine but is not limited thereto.

For illustrations of the embodiment of the invention hereinafter disclosed, reference is made to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view of the bending device and the supporting structure.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine shown in Figure 1.

, Figure 3 is a section taken along the line III- III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I VIV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line VV of either Figure l or Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the ejecting mechanism head in a collapsed position, including a phantom view of the head mechanism in the extended position.

Figure '7 is an elevation of a fragment of the machine on the side opposite to that shown in Figure 1 showing a convenient form of discharge guide.

Construction The bending machine, as illustrated in Figure 1, is comprised of a sub-base support frame, in-

dicated as l, upon which is mounted a combination prime mover and drive pedestal 2 and the rolling mechanism 3, which in turn supports the ejection device 4 by means of the ejection device support 5.

For the sake of clarity, the end of the bending machine which supports and includes the prime mover and its pedestal will be referred to as the 'right end and that end of the machine which supports and includes the rolling mechanism will be hereinafter referred to as the leftward end 1 of the machine.

The sub-base support frame I may be con- 'structed in any convenient, conventional manner, but as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 is comprised of the vertical members 6 and l which support the horizontal platform member 8 at their upper extremities and are braced near their lower extremities by the cross-members 9 and Ill.

The horizontal platform member 8 extends beyond 'the rightward vertical member 'I for the purpose of supporting the prime mover and drive pedestal 2, and is therefore additionally braced at la point near its overhanging extremity by means :of the overhanging support brace l I which is "connected at its lower end to the lower extremity of the vertical support member 1, as by Welding.

Two foot members 12 and I3 secured at the base of the vertical support members 6 and 1, respec- 4 tively, provide added lateral stability to the subbase frame.

The individual elements and members comprising the sub-base support frame are secured to each other, where required, by any suitable means or method, as by welding, bolting or riveting. Although the cross-members 9 and I0 are shown as angle iron and the vertical members 8 and 1 and horizontal platform member 3 are illustrated as shaped pieces of fabricated steel plate, it will be understood that such structure is not intended to limit the construction, but merely to provide one example thereof.

The prime mover and drive pedestal 2 sup- .ported as aforesaid on the rightward or overhanging end of the horizontal platform member 8 may, as illustrated, be a fabricated steel structure which supports a conventional type of adjustable prime mover base I 5 upon its rightward end. Said adjustable base H5 in turn mounts a suitable prime mover l6 hereinafter referred to as an electric motor for illustrative purposes only. The leftward end of the combinationmotor and drive pedestal 2 supports a suitable differential gear box viewed more clearly at II in Figure 2. Said gear box I! is operably associated with the motor II; by means of the pulleys l8 and I! mounted on the gear box and motor shafts, respectively, and which are mutually engaged by the belt 20. It will be understood that the belt and pulley arrangement used as a transmission ,means between the motor [6 and the gear box ll is one of several means for transmitting such power and therefore is described for illustrative purposes only. It will also be noted that the pulley I9 mounted on the motor I6 is of the variable pitch type for the purpose of speed adjustment, and may be of any conventional, convenient type. Although the gear box I! may be of any conventional type, it will preferably be of the worm and pinion type by which a reduction of speed may be accomplished between the driving shaft 25 and the driven shaft 26. The gear box and adjustable motor base may be secured to the motor and gear box pedestal 2 in any convenient manner, such as by bolting. The said pedestal 2 may be secured to the said extended portion of the horizontal platform member 8 also by any suitable means, such as bolting. The gear box and motor, hence the pedestal 2 supporting them, are preferably mounted with respect to said sub-base support frame so that the transmission means connecting the two, here pulleys and a belt, are radially in line longitudinally of said sub-base support frame. Such alignment of said pulleys l8 and I9 permits their easy enclosure withinthe drive guard shown in phantom at 21 in Figure 1.

The rolling mechanism 3, appearing in Figures 1 and 2, is supported on either end by means of the support brackets 30 and 3|. As illustrated in Figures 3 and 5, said brackets 30 and 3! are substantially mirror images of each other. In the region of the upper extremities of said brackets 30 and 3| are suitable integral means provided with suitably bushed openings therein, for rotatable reception of the end shafts 32 and 33 which support the upper initial roll 34 as shown in Figures 1 and 5. The roll 34 is the top roll in a group of three parallel rolls, advantageously, but not necessarily, of similar lengths and diameters, which are directly or indirectly supported at their extremities by means of brackets 30 and 3|.

The end shaft 33 is flexibly coupled with the escapee driving shaft 26 (Figure 2) of the earbox l1 by'means of any conventional type of flexible coupling presently in use. Secured to the end shaft 33, between the bracket 3| and the flexible cou-pling 35, is a pinion 36 (Figure 1), engaged by another geared pinion 31, which latter geared pinion is rotatably mounted, within one side of thesemi-gear housing 38, on the end shaft 39 of the lower initial roll 40. The other side of said semi-gear housing 38 rotatably supports the end shaft 4| of the roll 42. Said end shaft 41 mounts the pinion gear 43 (Figure 4) rotatable therewith, but without directly engaging the gear 31. Also rotatably mounted within the semi-gear housing '38 on the shaft 44 is the geared pinion 45 which engages both the gear 31 and the gear 43 and effects driving of th said gear 43 from the said ear 31.

At the opposite end of the said rolls 42 and 40 fromthe gear housing 58 is a bearing support member 49 (Figure 4) comprising the bearing housings 50 and 5!, which are held in fixed relationship with respect to each other by th web 52. Said bearing housings 5t and 5! are provided with suitable bearings'for appropriate support of the end shafts 53 and 54, respectively, of the rolls 42 and 40, respectively. The semi-gear housing 38 is on the rightward end of the rolling mechanism whereas th bearing support member 59 is on the leftward end of said rolling mechanism. The bossed arm 55, which may be an integral part of the bearing housing 46 which in turnmay be an integral part of the semi-gear housing 38, fixedly supports the shaft at its rightward extremity. The bossed arm 5! which maybe an integral part of the bearing housing 50, supports the leftward extremity of said shaft 55.

As will be noted in Figures 3, 4 and 5 the princ-ipalsupport of the assembly shown in Figure 4 is provided by the end brackets 30 and 3! through the adjusting blocks 6!] and GI which rotatably support the end shafts 54 and 39 of the roll 40. The adjusting blocks 60 and BI, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, are held in slidable relationship with said end brackets 30 and 3t, respectively, by means of the slides 62 and 63 associated with the block 69, and slides 64 and 65 associated with block 5|. Said slides 62, B3, 64 and 65 are affixed tosaid support brackets 30 and 3!, respectively,

by any suitable means, such as bolting. Blocks 61 and 60 are held in resilient adjustment by suitable means, such as the coiled springs 66 and 6'1, respectively (Figures 3 and 5), which ar associated with the adjustment screws 36 and 69, respectively, which screws are in turn held in their respective proper positions by means of the nuts 10 and H. By means of said adjusting block, adjusting slides, resilient means, set screws, and locking nuts, it is possible to maintain or readily change the desired pressure between the engaging peripheral surfaces of the said parallel rolls 4'0 and 34. The adjustment screws 69 and '68 are threaded through suitable bosses l2 and 13' in the support brackets 30 and 3-1, respecti-vely.

Inasmuch as the assembly illustrated in Figure 1 4 is rotatably supported on the support brackets 30-and 3| in the manner just described, other support means are necessary to hold the curvature roll 42 in position for proper engagement with the sheet material which is fed through the rolls.

In order to accomplish this and as illustrated inFigures 3, 4 and 5, the shaft 56 rotatably supportsa plurality of brackets .15 which are seill cured, as by welding, to a plate 16 which is'in turn secured as by welding to two vertical plates Tl and 18. As shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5, there is disposed between said vertical plates, preferably midwayof their extremities, a suitable block 13 for threaded relationship with an adjusting screw 80. Said adjusting screw is pivotally seated in a block 8| which may be secured to the horizontal platform member 8, as by bolting. The block '79 is securely held in position with respect to plates 11 and 18 by bolting, welding or other suitable means;

It may be observed from the foregoing, that by proper adjustment of the screw 80 with respect to the block 19, as illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 5, a raising or lowering of the adjusting assembly 83 including the brackets 15, the plate 15, the vertical plates 11 and 18 and the blocks 19 will be effected. Since the brackets 15 rotatably support the shaft 56 which is, as aforesaid aifixed to the rocker arms 55 and 51, movement upward or downward of the'adjusting assembly 83 will produce a movement of the curvature roller 42 in a generally upward or downward direction along the arc of a circle 'Whose center is coincident with the center of the lower initial roll 40; The assembly 83 and the adjusting screw 80, which provides the support thereof, thus constitute the other support required for the assembly shown in Figure 4, and at the same time provide a means for adjusting the curvature of the sheet material which'is fed 'betweenthe rolls 34 and 4.3 and thence over the roll 42.

Mounted on the top of said brackets 3!! and 31 conveniently as required, is an ejecting mechanism support 5 (Figures 1 and 3) which may be fabricated or cast in any conventional manner, of any convenient material, but, preferably and as illustrated, is constructed in this particular embodiment of; the invention of plate steel elements secured togetherby welding. Such elements comprise a central vertical member braced at convenient "intervals by webs 9| topped by, a steel plate slide rail 92' and mounted on the bottom 5 thereof by anotherpiece 93 of steel plate of a generally rectangular shap and 'sufliciently wide and long to completely contact the lower edges of the said web members 91 and the central vertical member, 90.

Supported on the underside of said steel plate 93 are aypluralityof brackets 94 to which is mounted the roller supporting strip .95, as illustra-ted in Figures 1. and 3. Pivotally supported on said roller supporting strip 95 is a plurality of suitably grooved rollers 96 whose grooves are substantially radially in line and whose axes are also along a single line which line is perpendicular to said axes of said rollers, substantially parallel with said rolls 40, '34 and 42, and longitudinally disposed with respect to the bending machine. Said rollers 95 are suspended from the forward edge of the steel plate 93, as appearing in Figure 3, for the purpose of engaging the leading edge of the sheet material, .as shown in phantom at 98 in Figure 3, after said sheet material has been fed through :the rolls, as heretofore described, has been cylindrically curved thereby up, over and around the ejection support 5, and is about to return to its initial position of feeding. Said cylindrically shaped material, having gone through the rolls, may be guided into contact'wit'h the said groovedrolls 96 by means of a suitable guide member H10 which is supported by a plurality of guide support brackets llll, which may be adjustablymounted on the forward side ofsaid support'brackets 30'and 3|. 1 The guide member I may conveniently, but not necessarily, be a strip of steel bar, supplemented, if desired, by the fingers I00a. The brackets IOI may :be constructed of fabricated steel members secured together as by welding. A suitable guiding means, asillustrated in Figures 3 and 5, may also be provided along the rear of said rolling machine. This may comprise the guide bar I02 which is substantially parallel with the said bending machine, as is the guide bar I00, and suitably secured as by bolting to a plurality of suitable support members I 03 fabricated similarly to the support members IOI.

As illustrated in Figures 3 and 5 the support members I03 may in turn be adjustably held in position with respect to'the machine by means of the brackets I04.

Figure 7 illustrates one convenient form of guide I50 for receiving the trailing edge of sheet material as it is being ejected axially from the bending machine to receiving means, here shown in phantom as guide rollers on the conveyor feed for an automatic welder. This guide is mounted to the frame in any convenient manner, is aligned to receive between its flared flanges I5I and I52 the sheet to be guided, the position of whose edge is indicated by the broken lines I53.

It will be understood that the guide bars I00 and I02 as well as their supporting members IM and I03 are described in detail for the purpose of illustrating one possible means of construction. However, said bars, as guide members, may in some cases advantageously be replaced by rollers, rolls or any of a variety of guiding means, or in other cases it may be found that such guides will be inadvisable or unnecessary.

An ejection device 4 which may be viewed in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 6 is located above the rolls and within the zone which will be circumscribed by the sheet material during the bending operation. It comprises a head I01, which is secured to the operating end of a piston rod I08 operatively associated with an actuating cylinder I09. Said actuating cylinder may be supported in any convenient manner, but as illustrated in Figure 1 is mounted at its rightward end, by means of the fastening members I06, on the leftward extremity of the ejection device support 5. The leftward end of said cylinder may be supported by the associated welding machine or by means of an independent pedestal, not shown. Said ejection head is slidably associated with the slide rail 92 for reciprocable motion therewith by means of said piston rod I08 upon the actuation of said cylinder I09. Reciprocable actuation of the piston rod I08 within the cylinder I09 may be effected by means of any suitable fluid, such as air which is introduced and exhausted by conventional means in any conventional manner. The timing and control of said cylinder I09 may be by any conventional means, such as directly by an operator or by any conventional automatic means.

As will be noted in Figures 3 and 6, the ejection head is comprised of a sliding base IIO, a crossmember III, either integral therewith or separably secured thereto, which in turn supports the guide block II2. Said guide block I I2 is provided with a suitable opening 3 for slidable reception of the piston rod I08, which rod also penetrates the flange I I4 of the cross-member III, through an ample opening therein, for fixed relationship with the sliding bar II5 by means of the nut H6. The sliding bar, I I5 is substantially free to slide reciprocably, longitudinally of the sliding base I I 0 within the limits of the flange H4 and the stop Ill whose function will be described hereinafter in more detail. The fingers I I8 and I I9 are pivotally attached to the extended ends of the cross-member III at their one end, and securely attached to the contactors I20 and I2I at their other ends, respectively. Pivotally affixed to each of said ejection fingers H8 and I I9, between said extremities thereof, are one end of the links I22 and I23, respectively. Said links are pivotally attached, at their other respective ends to opposite ends of the sliding bar H5. Thus, it will appear that, since the sliding bar H5, the links I22 and I23, the fingers H8 and H9 and the cross-member III are all pivotally associated, a movement of the piston rod I08 in a rightward direction, as appearing in Figure 6, urging the sliding bar II5 across the top of the sliding base H0 until said bar strikes said stop III, will cause the contactor ends of the fingers H8 and H9 mutually to collapse towards the center'- line of'the sliding base IIO. After said sliding bar II5 has contacted the stop 1, as just described, continued motion of said piston rod I08 in a rightward direction will cause said sliding base IIO to slide along the slide rail 92. If, on the other hand, the piston rod I08 is caused to move in a leftward direction, as appearing in Figure 6, said sliding bar II 5 will take a position indicated in phantom at 511, and the links I22 and I23 will take the positions I22a and I23a, also shown in phantom, thereby causing the fingers II 8a and Set to be extended as shown. The purpose of this collapsing feature in the ejection device head will be described in detail hereinafter in connection with the operation of the entire bending machine.

A plurality of hooked restrictors, indicated as I25 in Figures 1 and 5 are secured as by bolting to the shaft I26 which in turn is rotatably supported Within appropriately bushed openings in the bossed ears I 21 and I28, which ears may be an integral part of the support brackets 30 and 3|. The oscillatory rotation of the shaft I26 and the attached restrictors I25 is determined by the control assembly indicated in Figure 5 at I30.

The said control assembly I30 comprises a rocker arm I3I, linkage members I32, a turnbuckle I33, a piston rod I34 and associated control cylinder I35. Said rocker arm is secured at its one extremity, as by bolting, to the shaft I26 preferably, but not necessarily, about midway of the ends of said shaft. The other extremity of said rocker arm I3I is pivotally secured to the upper end of linkage member I 32, whose lower end is pivotally secured to the said turnbuckle I33. Said turnbuckle is threadedly associated with the piston rod I 34 of the control cylinder I35, which may be, for example, a cylinder actuated by a suitable pressure fluid, such as air. Said cylinder I35 is mounted on the horizontal platform member 8 in any suitable manner as by bolting. In this particular embodiment of the invention, the piston within the cylinder I35 is actuated by the-pres;- sure fluid in a downward direction only. When the pressure is released on said fluid, a suitable resilient means, such as a spring (not shown), causes said piston, hence said piston rod I34, to return to the top of its stroke. Referring either to Figure 3 or to-Figure 5 it will be observed that, if the piston and associated piston rod are forced in a downward direction by the introduction of pressure fluid, as aforesaid, the linkage com prising I33, I32 and I3I will be caused to move in 9 a downward direction thereby effecting a-clockwise rotation of the restrictors I25. When the fluid pressure into said cylinder I35 is cut ofi, said resilient means within said cylinder will cause said. linkage and said restrictors I to return to the restricting position shown in Figure 5. It will be noted that when said hooked restrictors are in a position as shown in Figure 5, their hooked ends we will prevent the entry of sheets of stock between the rolls 34 and 40. Said hooked ends I24 will also eliminate the possibility for the leading edge of the sheet being rolled to pass over and around the ejection device support 5 in a circular path and re-enter at 91 between the rolls 34 and 49, in the event that said leading edge should overshoot the rollers 96.

The flow of pressure fluid to said cylinder I35 through the conduit I31 is controlled by means of the electrically energize-d valve I38, shown in Figure 1, which may be mounted on the horizontal platform member 8 in any convenient manner such as bolting. The electrical release mechanism in the valve I38 is remotely controlled by means of a conventional type limit switch I 39, conveniently, but not necessarily, mounted on the central vertical member 99 or attached web members SI of the ejection device support 5. The limit switch I39 is positioned with respect to the slide rail 92 of the ejection device support 5 so that a suitable finger I40 depending from the under side of said ejection device head II", will trip the said limit switch I39 as said ejection device head It is urged to move along said slide rail 92 either leftwardly 0r rightwardly past the position of said limit switch. A conventional arrangement of contactors within the limit switch I39, which are electrically connected with the valve I38, will initiate and maintain a suitable synchronization between the hooked restrictors I25 and the ejection device 4 with respect to feeding new sheets of stock into the roll mechanism. Since control and adjustment by means of limit switches, electric valves for pressure fluid systems, and their associated assemblies are part of a well known and much used art, detailed description regarding the exact means and method of control will be omitted. It is sufficient to say that the reciprocation of the ejection device head I01 along the slide 92 past the position of the limit switch I39, when properly regulated and adjusted, will cause the hooked restrictors I25 to permit or impede the entry of sheet stock between the rolls34 and 49 in proper synchronization with said ejection device.

Operation A description of the operation of the said bending machine may be followed most readily by reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3. The electric motor I6 may be energized by means of any suitable, conventional starting switch, not shown, thereby rotating the pulley I9 which is secured to the shaft thereof. Rotation of said pulley I8, hence the driving shaft 25 of the gear box II, will be induced by means of said pulley I 9 through their mutual association with said belt means 29. A suitably geared mechanism within said gear box I? will produce a differential in rotational speeds, here a reduction, between the driving shaft 25 and the driven shaft 26, which is flexibly coupled with the end shaft 33 of the top roll 34.

Hence, a rotation of the end shaft 33', upon which is mounted the geared pinion 36, will directly effect a rotation of the geared pinion 31, hence the end shaft 39' of the bottom roll 40. The pinion 31 willalso effect rotation of the geared iii pinion 43 and through it the associated shaft-4i of the curvature roll 4-2. All three of the said rolls 34, 40 and 42 will advantageously, yet not necessarily insofar as this invention is concerned, be rotated at approximately the same rate of peripheral speed. The basic determination of the. relationship between the rotational speed of said rolls and the pulley I8 will be determined by the ratio between driving shaft and driven shaft of the differential gear box I1, and may be selected from conventional equipment to suit the specific requirements of the job. Small, more precise adjustments, in the rotational speed of said rolls may be controlled by means of the variable speed pulley i9- mounted on the motor shaft. The adjustable base I5 is provided to take up, any slack in the belt 20'- produced by a variation in the pitch diameter of the variable speed pulley I9. Such base I5 and pulley I9 may also be selected from conventional equipment so, therefore, will not be described in further detail.

After the rotational speed of the rolls 32,49 and 42 has been properly adjusted, a related adjustment must then be made in the ejection device mechanism 4 so that the actuating cylinder I99 will not urge the ejection head to move in a left wardly direction, as appearing in Figure 1, until the sheet stock being rolled through the machine has completed its rolling cycle and its leading edge is resting in the grooved rollers 96. A further adjustment must be made between the limit switch I39 and the hydraulic cylinder I35 so that the hooked restrictors I25 will remain in their restricting position until the ejection device head has moved the cylindrically rolled preform clear of the rolling area. The mechanism is also preferably adjusted so that the ejection device head will not return rightwardly until the next sheet to be rolled is partly through the rolls. This will prevent the leading edge of such sheet from striking the ejection head and fouling.

Ifhe bending roll 42 is adjusted so that the radius of curvature of the sheet being rolled is a little less than that which would effect an easy encircling of the parts encircled and only a light engagement of the leading and trailing edges, respectively, with the rollers 96 and the discharge side of the initial rolls 34 and 46. Thus the bent sheet will grip the guides tightly and will thereby remain in proper position for ejection from said bending machine.

These adjustments and corrections having been made, the bending machine is now ready for operation. The operator energizes the various moving parts of the entire machine and awaits the timed reciprocation of the ejection device head I0! thereby causing the hooked restrictors I25 to rotate momentarily away from a position impeding access to the entry 91 between the initial rolls 3% and 45!. Thereupon, said operator introduces a suitably sized and shaped sheet of stock between said rolls 34 and 40 at the entry point 91, as appearing on the forward side of the machine in Figure l. The gearsiit, 3T, 43 and 45, by means of inter-relationship as described, will drive the rolls to draw said sheet stock through said initial rolls, and against the curvature roll 62 by which to impose the desired curvature onto said sheet stock. The sheet stock will continue to move between said rolls, while being supported by said guide bar Iii-2, and follow a circular path over and around the ejection device mechanism and support 4 and 5, respectively, Where it may be supported and guided by the guide bar I00 and associated frame so that, and until, the said leading 1 l edge thereof engages the grooved pulleys 96, as shown in Figure 3. The trailing edge of said sheet will then ride on the discharge side of the initial rolls 34 and 40 and may be slid axially therealong.

The cylinder I09 is now actuated, as above described, to move the piston rod I08 leftwardly as appearing in Figure 1, whereby to pull the ejection head I01 to the leftward end of the machine. The contactors I20 and IZI of said ejection head will contact the rightward edge of the cylindrically shaped preform and draw said preform towards the leftward end of the machine where it may be discharged onto an appropriate conveyor mechanism for transporting it to a stock pile, or where said preform may be ejected upon the suitable conveyor system of an associated welding machine, as in the specific embodiment of the invention here illustrated. As said ejection head moves past the position of the limit switch I39, the hydraulic cylinder I35 will be actuated to rotate the hooked restrictors I25 from a position blocking the entry 91 between the rolls 34 and 40. The operator is thereby provided with an adjustable period of time to feed another sheet of stock between said rolls. When this sheet is partly, as one-third, through the rolls, said actuating cylinder I09 will then return the ejection head to the rightward end of the rail 92 in a collapsed condition, as described heretofore and illustrated in Figure 6, so that said contactors I20 and I2I will pass the newly forming sheet and be ready to eject it as soon as it is finished.

The desired pressure between said rolls 34 and 40 may be adjusted and maintained by means of said set screws 68 and 69 either before said bending machine is set into motion, or after it is in operation. Likewise, proper adjustment of the curvature roll by means of the curvature roll adlusting assembly 83 may be accomplished either before or after the said machine has been placed in running operation. By means of the two aforementioned adjusting devices proper curvature of the sheet stock being preformed is under constant control, thereby insuring the most efficient possible operation of said bending machine.

It may be readily observed that the speed with which the subject bending machine can produce preformed, cylindrically shaped articles, may vary over a wide range and is substantially limited only by the speed with which the associated conveyor or welding machine means can handle the articles preformed on this bending machine.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been selected for illustrative purposes and although many specific details have been disclosed for the purpose of clarity during thecourse of illustration and description, it will be evident that a wide variety of modifications may be incorporated into the machine illustrated without departingfrom the scope of the invention. Furthermoreyit will be understood that although a rolling 'ma'chine of the type herein disclosed-"may handle; and preform sheets as shown in a wide variety-of-=diameters, the embodiment herein selected for illustrative purposes has been designed especially to roll sheet stock into relatively large cylindrical shells suitable for the side walls' of barrelshaving a diameter of approximately 10 inches or largerl' It will also be understood' thatthe means for actuating the various cylin-ders;"-valv'es and gears, although specifically stated for illustrative-pub poses, may be-of any conventional type conven ient in the specific application of the-invention, l y, althou h-th above-me tioned draw.-

ings and descriptions may apply to one particular preferred embodiment of the invention it is not my intention, implied or otherwise, to eliminate other variations or modifications which do not depart from the scope of the invention, unless specifically stated to the contrary in the hereinafter appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a bending machine for uniformly curving sheet material, the combination comprising: a frame, a plurality of bending rolls rotatably supported by said frame and means effecting rotation thereof, two of said rolls constituting initial rolls receiving sheet stock to be bent, and means cooperating with said initial rolls effecting such bending; stop means close to and parallel with said initial rolls for arresting the movement of stock being bent as the free edge thereof reapproaches said initial rolls near the end of a bending cycle, and ejection means supported by said frame above said rolls within the zone circumscribed by said sheet material during the bending procedure for removing said bent sheet in a direction parallel to the axes of the rolls after the bending operation has been completed.

2. In a bending machine for sheet material the combination comprising: a frame, a plurality of bending rolls rotatably supported by and substantially above said frame, and means effecting rotation thereof, two of said rolls constituting initial rolls receiving sheet stock to be bent, and a third roll cooperating with said initial rolls for effecting the bending thereof by curving a sheet of such stock upwardly, stop means close to and parallel with said initial rolls for arresting the movement of stock being bent as the free edge thereof reapproaches said initial rolls near the end of a bending cycle, and reciprocable ejection means supported by said frame above said rolls within the zone circumscribed by said sheet material during the bending procedure for removing said bent sheet in a direction parallel to the axes of the rolls after the bending operation has been completed.

3. In a bending machine for uniformly curving sheet material the combination comprising: a frame, a plurality of bending rolls rotatably supported by said frame, two of said rolls constituting initial rolls receiving sheet stock to be bent, and a third roll cooperating with said initial rolls comprising means effecting such curving of said sheet material; stop means close to and parallel with said initial rolls for arresting the movement of stock being bent as the free edge thereof reapproaches said initial rolls near the end of a bending cycle; retractable means obstructing entry of sheet material into said initial rolls; ejecting means supported by said frame above said rolls within the zone circumscribed by said sheet material during the bending procedure for removing said bent sheet in a direction parallel to the axes of the rolls after the bending operation has been completed; means relating the operation of said retractable means to the operation of said ejecting means whereby said retractable means will be in sheet obstructing position during the ejection of a given sheet, and in sheet passing position during at least a part of the remainder of the operational cycle including that part immediately following said ejection.

4. In a bending machine for sheet material the combination comprising: a frame, a plurality of bending rolls rotatably supported by said frame, two of said rolls constituting initial rolls receiving sheet stock to be bent; stop means close to and parallel with said initial rolls for arresting the movement of stock being bent as the free edge thereof reapproaches said initial rolls near the end of a bending cycle; and means supported by said frame above said rolls within the zone circumscribed by said sheet material during the bending procedure for removing said bent sheet in a direction parallel to the axes of the rolls after the bending operation has been completed; guard means adjacent the initial rolls adjustable to two positions in one of which positions said guard means prevents the introduction of sheet material into said initial rolls and in the other of said two position said means permit the entry of sheet material into said initial rolls; control means relating the action of said guard means to the operation of said ejection means by which said guard means will be in obstructing position when said ejection means is in one position and may be in open position when said ejection means is in another position.

5. In a machine for uniformly curving sheet material said machine havin a frame and a plurality of bending rolls above said frame and rtably supported thereby and means rotatably driving said rolls, the improvement comprising: a horizontally disposed slide rail above and substantially parallel with the axes of said rolls supported by said frame within the zone circumscribed by a sheet of said sheet material during the bending process; a sliding base slidably supported on said rail; collapsible arms supported on said sliding base extending laterally of the direction of such sliding; means effecting reciprocation of said sliding base and said slide rail and including means by which the laterally extending parts are collapsed in one direction of reciprocation and extended in the other direction of reciprocation.

6. In means for bending sheet material, the combination comprising; a supporting frame, a pair of rolls rotatably supported on said frame at the upper side thereof and a bending roll adjacent thereto; said rolls bending said sheet material upwardly and around a cylindrical zone having its axis above and spaced from said rolls retractable means intermittently blocking entry of sheet material between said pair of rolls; reciprocal means located at least partially within, and operably parallel to the axis of, said zone of ejection of said sheet material and means responsive to the position of said reciprocable means for controlling the position of said retractable means.

7. In a machine for uniformly curving sheet materials, said machine having a frame and a plurality of bending rolls above said frame and rotatably supported thereby, and means rotatably driving said rolls, the improvement comprising: a horizontally disposed slide rail above and substantially parallel with the axes of said rolls supported by said frame within the zone circumscribed by a sheet of said sheet material during the bending process; a sliding base slidably supported on said rail; collapsible arms supported on said sliding base extendin laterally of the direction of such sliding; a reciprocable rod having one end adjacent said sliding base and reciprocably movable with respect thereto; spaced means on said base engageable by said rod in each direction of reciprocation for reciprocably moving said sliding base with the reciprocation of said rod but permitting lost motion between said rod and said base, said lost motion occurring between the end of movement of both thereof in one direction and the beginning of the movement of said base in the other direction; linkage connecting said rod and said collapsible arms operable by said rod during said lost motion period for collapsing said arms as said base is moved along said rail in one direction and for extending said arms as said base is moved along said rail in the opposite direction.

8. In a machine for bending sheet material into a substantially cylindrical form and having a supporting frame, a pair of initial feeding rolls cooperating with each other and rotatably supported on said frame, a bending roll adjacent and parallel tosaid feeding rolls for bending said sheet material upwardly and around a substan tially cylindrical zone, means rotating said rolls, stop means close to and parallel with the feeding rolls for arresting movement of sheet material being bent as it reapproaches said feeding rolls near the end of a bending cycle, and means controllin the feeding of sheet material into and effecting the ejection of curved sheet material out of said machine; the improvement in said last named means comprising: guard means retractably obstructing the entry of sheet material between said feeding rolls; a horizontal slide rail above and substantially parallel with the axes of said rolls, supported by said frame within said zone and extending out from one end thereof; a sliding base supported on said rail and reciprocably slidable thereon through the full length of said zone and out therefrom in bent-sheet-ejecting direction and back into said zone in nonejecting direction; collapsible arms on said base extending therefrom sufliciently when in extended position to engage the edges of said sheet material after same has assumed a fully curved shape and when in collapsed position capable of moving axially through said zone without contacting said sheet material; riving means reciprocating said sliding base; linkage means associated therewith effectin extension of said arms as said driving means moves in bent-sheetejecting direction for engaging and moving a bent sheet axially off said rolls, and effecting collapsing of said arms as said driving means moves in non-ejecting direction for permitting return of said arms to a position for engaging the next sheet without contacting such sheet if it is then being bent; and control means responsive to movement of said sliding base effecting positioning of said guard means in sheet arresting position during an ejecting stroke of said ejection means to prevent feeding of a new sheet into the machine before the previous one is fully removed therefrom and effecting movement thereof into non-arresting position in other positions of said ejecting means whereby a new sheet may be fed through said rolls for bending durin at least a part of the return stroke of the ejecting mechanism.

HOWARD C. COGAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 807,352 Boax Dec. 12, 1905 908,119 Naegelen Dec. 29, 1908 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 493,019 Germany Mar. 4, 1930 

